India's capital, Delhi, will begin randomised Covid tests at airports, bus stops and train stations amid what some experts say is a second wave.
Mumbai, a financial hub and virus hotspot, ordered mandatory testing in busy areas earlier this week.
Cases have surged in recent weeks - on Wednesday, India reported more than 47,000 new cases and 275 deaths, it's highest this year.
It has reported more than 11.7 million cases and 160,000 deaths so far
India's caseload dropped significantly at the start of this year - it reported under 10,000 new infections on some days. And this coincided with the launch of the country's vaccine drive, the largest in the world.
But March saw a sharp uptick, with more than 40,000 new infections reported daily since Sunday.
The surge in cases comes during what some experts have called a 'delicate phase' for India - the healthcare system is already exhausted from a year-long battle against the coronavirus.